Gearing for bicycles



Aug- 8, 1939. P. R. ToRREs GEAHING FOR BICYGLES Filed July 26, 193'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m m Mw'wz;

ATTORN EYS Aug. 8, 1939. P. R. TORRES 2,169,171

GEARING Fon IcY-cLEs Filed July 26. 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l 2 Claims.

The invention relates to gearing for bicycles and more especially to change speed mechanism and brake and alarm controls.

The primary object of the invention is the pro- Vision of a bicycle of this character, wherein the same is susceptible of operation at different speeds through the medium of change speed mechanism so that such bicycle when operated can be propelled at different or varying speeds according to the desire of the rider of the same.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a bicycle of this character, wherein through a control the speed of travel thereof can be regulated through braking means and at the same time a signal or alarm can be simultaneously actuated thus notifying pedestrians or traflic of the approach of the bicycle to eliminate collisions or accidents, the brake means being positive and dependable.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a bicycle of this character, wherein the construction is novel in its entirety and is readily and easily controlled for regulating the speed of travel thereof, conveniently braked and assured of effecting a Warning or signal when in use.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a bicycle of this character, which is simple in its construction, thoroughly reliable vand effective in operation, neat in appearance, strong, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangements of parts as will u lbe hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bicycle constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional View thereof, certain portions rof the bicycle being shown in top plan.

Figure 3 is a sectional view thereof.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the brake and alarm mechanism.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view vthrough the bicycle.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation partly in section showing the brake applied` Figure '7 is a perspective view of one of the train of gears.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of one of the pedal cranks of the bicycle.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective View of the main sprocket wheel and adjuncts.

Similar reference characters indicate correspending parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the bicycle comprises, as is usual, a frame I0 which in its rear forks and I2, respectively, has arranged a rear driving wheel I3 While in the front steering fork 4 is a front steering wheel I5, a steering stem I6 which carries handle bars I1 as is usual. The seat of the bicycle is indicated at I8 and is of any conventional type.

The frame is formed with an axle housing I9 accommodating therein the axle end 2D of a pedal crank 2|, the pedal being indicated at 22 for the latter. Loose upon the axle end Within the housing I9 is a sprocket hub 23 having detachably threaded thereon at one end the main driving sprocket 24 over which is trained a sprocket chain 25 which is also trained over a sprocket gear 26 fixed to the rear wheel I3 as is customary.

Detachably xed to the axle end 20 is the other pedal crank 21 carrying a pedal 28. The sprocket gear 24 is at one end of the hub 23 while at the other end is xed a disk 29. The axle end 20 has loose thereon the hub portion 30 of a gear 3| which is enmesh with planetary pinions 32 concentrically thereof, these being journalled on the disk 29 which is counterseated in a casing 33 formed on the housing I9 at the side of the bicycle frame I0 opposite the sprocket gear 24 and Which casing is tted with a removable cover or face plate 34. The hub 23 tting the housing has coacting therebetween the usual antifriciton ball or roller bearings 35.

Surrounding the axle end 20 within the hub 23 is a coiled expansion spring 36, one end playing against an abutment 31 on the said axle end and the opposite end seated against the disk 29.v

The pedal crank 21 is formed with a latching klip 38 for engaging with an abutment shoulder 39 on the hub portion of the gear 3| thus locking the said gear with the axle end 2|) under the tension of the spring 3B. Next to the shoulder 39 and formed with the hub portion 30 of the gear 3| is a cam face 40 coacting with the lip 38 so that when the pedal cranks 2| and 21 are at a standstill this lip 38 will ride the cam face 4|)Y disengaging the lip 38 from the shoulder 39 and thereby freeing the gear 3| on the axle end 2li.v

locking the hub 23 carrying the sprocket 24 directly with the axle end 2U. When the said sprocket gear 24 is latched with the pedal crank 2|, the driving speed of the wheel I3 will be at the maximum and when the lip 38 engages With the shoulder 33 and the sprocket gear 24 is unlatched from the latching hook 4I the speed of driving of the wheel I3 is reduced according to the ratio of the gearing 3| and 32. Thus it will be seen that the wheel I3 can be driven at high speed when the sprocket 24 is engaged by the latching hook 4I or at low speed when the lip 38 is engaged with the shoulder 39 on the hub portion 3U of the gear 3|.

The cover or face plate 34 is formed with an extension 43 creating a boxing 44 and journaled vertically in this boxing rearwardly oi the casing 33 is a turning post 45, while horizontally journaled in the boxing 44 is a double crank axle 46, the crank 41 of which carries a peripherally grooved braking roller 48 adapted for engaging the rear wheel at its tired periphery for braking purposes. The other crank 49 of said axle 46 is formed with a pivot lug 53 for mounting thereon of a swinging elbow 5| which is adapted to be swung from a position clearing the crank 21 into the path thereof when making a down stroke and in this position will effect the application of the brake roller 48 for braking purposes on the rear wheel |3 of the bicycle.

The post 45 carries a bell 52 having a clapper 53 which is adapted to swing into the path of the spokes 54 of the rear wheel I3 so that when the latter rotates, the clapper 53 is actuated for the sounding oi the bell 52 for signaling purposes.

On the handle bar is fixed a nger actuated control 55 to which is connected a pull cable 56, the same being tightly twisted at 51 about the post 45 and is connected at 53 with the elbow 5|, the latter being limited in its swinging movement by a stop pin 59 operating within a slot 80 formed in the elbow, the pin 59 being xed in the stud 50 of the crank arm 49. Thus when pull is made upon the cable 56, the post 45 is turned by the twist 51 and simultaneously therewith the elbow is swung into the path of movement of the crank 21 and when the latter is depressed against the elbow 5|, the brake roller 48 is brought into braking position on the wheel I3 while the clapper 53 is moved into the path of the spokes 54 for the automatic sounding of the bell 52. Normally the elbow 5| is swung inwardly clear of the crank 21 and the clapper 53 is swunk out of the path of the spokes 54 of the wheel I3. A closure plate 6| is detachably tted with the boxing 44 to conceal the parts interiorly thereof and this closure plate 6| affords one of the bearings for the axle 4S. A wedging shce 62 overliangs the brake roller 48 andis suitably fastened with the rear fork I| of the frame I8 of the bicycle in proper position and coacts with this roller 48 for wedging purposes to eiect the positive braking of the wheel I3 when the said roller 48 has made contact with the tired wheel. Under normal pedaling oi the bicycle the train of gearing 3| and 32 will be active for the driving of the wheel I3 at low speed. In this instance the pedal 21 having the latching lip 4| will be locked by the latter with the hub 33 of the gear 3| through contact with the shoulder or abutment 39 on said hub 33. Now by back pedaling or holding the pedals by the feet of the rider of the bicycle the lip 38 rides the cam 40 on the hub 30 of the gear 3| and thus laterally shifts the crank axle 2U in the hu 23 against the tension of the spring 36 thereby shifting the cranks 2| and 21 in a lateral direction so that when the lip 38 has reached the high portion of the cam 40 free wheeling will exist. Therefore, to effect a change to high speed it is necessary that the feet of the rider of the bicycle exert a pressure in a lateral direction so that the latching hook 4| on the crank 2| will engage with a spoke 42 of the sprocket wheel 24 thus in this manner locking the sprocket wheel with the pedal crank 21 and the bicycle on pedaling action will be driven at high speed. When it is desired to change from high to low speed, it is only necessary for the rider of the bicycle to stop pedaling and thus the spring 36 becomes active so that the lip 38 will lock with the abutment or shoulder 39 on the hub portion 30 of the gear 3| whence low speed will have been reached in the driving of the bicycle.

The pivot lug 50 has fitted thereto a coiled spring 53 which acts upon the elbow 5| to normally hold the same inwardly out of the path of the pedal crank 21 so that the brake will be normally inactive.

The outstruck casing 33 has ixed or fastened securely thereto a ring gear 64 which serves as a power medium for the planetary pinions 32 when engaged for low speed.

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle comprising a frame having an axle housing, a pedal crank having an axle fitting said housing, a sprocket hub loose upon said axle and having a separable driving sprocket, a second pedal crank detachably fitted to the said axle, a disk fixed to said hub, a gear loose on said axle, planetary pinions concentrically journaled on the disk and enmesh with the said gear on the axle, a coiled expansion spring having abutment on said axle and also seated against said disk, a latcliing lip on the second pedal crank, an abutment shoulder on the said gear loose upon the axle and engageable by said latching lip, a cam face next to the shoulder on said gear and coacting with the latching lip so that when the pedal cranks are at a standstill the lip will ride the cam face disengaging it from the shoulder and freeing the gear on the axle, and a latching jaw on the first-mentioned pedal crank and engageable with the sprocket gear upon lateral movement of the axle for the locking of the hub carrying the sprocket directly with the axle.

2. A bicycle comprising a frame having an axle housing, a pedal crank having an axle tting Said housing, a sprocket hub loose upon said axle and having a separable driving sprocket, a second pedal crank detachably fitted to the said axle, a disk fixed to said hub, a gear loose on said axle, planetary pinions concentrically journaled on the disk and enmesh with the said gear on the axle, a coiled expansion spring having abutment on said axle and also seated against said disk, a latching lip on the second pedal crank, an abutment shoulder on the said gear loose upon the axle and engageable by said latching lip, a cam face next to the shoulder on said gear and coacting with the latching lip so that when the pedal cranks are at a standstill the lip will ride the cam face disengaging it from the shoulder and freeing the gear on the axle, a latching jaw on the rst-mentioned pedal crank and engageable with the sprocket gear upon lateral movement of the axle for the locking of the hub carrying the sprocket directly with the axle, and foot pieces on said lrstand second-named pedal cranks.

PASTOR REYES TORRES. 

